The newly minted second-division league has achieved that status alongside the NASL but is focused on its own goals rather than its rival’s
The USL feels its achievement of second-division status in the U.S. Soccer pyramid is validation of hard work, but president Jake Edwards says his league is focused on its own growth, rather than on the NASL’s.
The USL had been the third division, below MLS and the NASL. But with the recent uncertainty surrounding the NASL, the USL made its bid to supplant that league as the USA’s second division.
U.S. Soccer decided to grant co-Division II status to both the USL and NASL, and though such a move may look disappointing for the USL, Edwards told Goal he and the league owners feel it’s "validation.